Deal could put referendum on ballot

Naggar has been working with Pedersen on the deal with Lennar
and plans to bring an agreement before the council during the
Tuesday council meeting.

But even if Pedersen and Lennar work out a deal, Councilman Jeff
Stone said the city should still move forward with its plans to get
a judge to review the validity of the referendum. City Attorney
Peter Thorson has said the referendum appears to contain the same
legal flaw that was part of the reason the Wolf Creek referendum
was deemed legally invalid.

"It would be unfortunate if we go to a public vote and then find
out it's not valid," Stone said. "We have a responsibility to
ensure that if we're going to pay for an initiative to go on the
ballot to make sure it's legally sound."

Stone, who is a candidate in the upcoming council race, called
Pedersen's attempt to work out a deal with Lennar an "11th-hour
political move to gain a victory before the election." Stone also
questioned why Pedersen would agree to not criticize a project that
he has publicly denounced.

"If he's such a strong opponent of Harveston, why make a
commitment not to criticize it?" Stone said. "It just proves that
this is purely political."

Pedersen said his objective is to get the project before voters,
because he feels it could change the suburban feel of Temecula. He
also said if Lennar commits to not opposing the Harveston
referendum, it nullifies the city's reasoning for filing a
complaint for declaratory relief.

"If Lennar gets up and says they don't have a problem with it
going to a vote, then what's the basis for the city's lawsuit?"
Pedersen asked. "I don't have any problem with it going to a vote.
That means there's not going to be any future litigation."